Device for the machine washing of clothes and the method of utilizing said device

ABSTRACT

The measuring and dispensing device of the reusable type for the machine washing of clothes comprises a hollow body intended to receive the amount of a liquid detergent prescribed for a wash and provided with at least one filling opening (3) and with outlets (8) for distribution in the machine, as well as means (2, 2a; 10, 10a) enabling the user to effect, once the device has been filled, an easy and controlled application of detergent to selected areas of a garment before the latter is washed in the machine, in order to effect a pre-treatment of the areas before the washing cycle, the measuring and dispensing device, still containing the amount of product remaining after the pre-treatment, being introduced together with the clothes into the machine. The pretreatment means (2, 2a; 10, 10a) form an integral part of the device.

The present invention relates to a measuring and dispensing device ofthe reusable type for the machine washing of clothes, and also to themethod of utilizing said device.

More particularly, the invention relates to a measuring and dispensingdevice, of a type which is now standard and which enables the method ofmachine washing of clothes described in the Applicant's Patent FR2563250 to be carried out and is intended to be filled with at least oneliquid detergent, thereupon being placed in the drum of the machinetogether with the clothes and then being progressively emptied of itscontents in the course of the washing cycle. Measuring and dispensingdevices of this kind have been described, inter alia, in the Applicant'spatent application published under No. FR 2570720. This applicationconcerns measuring and dispensing devices each of which comprises abody, particularly one of mainly spherical shape, which is intended tocontain a detergent liquid and which has a filling opening and isassociated with an attached assembly which may form a lid, capping saidopening. Said attached assembly and/or said body is or are provided withoutlets intended to permit the progressive discharge of the liquidamongst the clothes in the course of the washing.

It is known that, in order to obtain a good degree of cleanness, it isoften necessary for certain areas of clothes, for example particularlysoiled areas, such as individual spots, or areas habitually more heavilysoiled, such as shirt collars and cuffs, to be treated before the wash.This pretreatment generally consists of simple prewashing with soap, inparticular with a solid soap and a brush, so that the user must firstprovide himself with objects, namely the soap and the brush, other thanthose needed for the machine wash.

In this respect it should be noted that measuring and dispensing devicesknown hitherto and also the bottles containing detergent liquidsintended for machine washing are unsuitable for enabling a user to pourdetergent liquid onto a particular area of a garment in a sufficientlycontrolled manner.

In particular, large capacity containers are difficult to manipulate. Itis therefore usually necessary to make use of separately presentedpretreatment products, and containers for such products have beendeveloped and are available on the market: products applied by sprayingare for example known. Apart from inconvenience to the user, since twodifferent containers must be used--one for the detergent and the otherfor the pretreatment product-pretreatment with an additional productincreases the total cost of the wash.

The present invention seeks to obviate these disadvantages and providesa measuring and dispensing device incorporating pretreatment meansmaking it possible to achieve controlled application of a detergentliquid, with which it has been filled for the purpose of the machinewash, to selected areas of a garment for the purpose of effecting thepretreatment of these areas before the washing cycle. The user thereforeno longer needs to provide an object or a container which would be usedsolely for this specific pretreatment stage. Such pretreatment means mayfor example comprise means making it possible to pour out a controlledamount of liquid detergent onto the areas to be treated, such as spoutsor nozzles, optionally with additional means enabling a user to treatsuch areas by rubbing, such as irregularities formed on the measuringand dispensing device. The invention is obviously applicable to alltypes of measuring and dispensing devices, particularly to those of themulti-compartment type intended to contain a plurality of constituentswhich are not mutually compatible to a satisfactory extent.

The object of the present invention is therefore a measuring anddispensing device of the reusable type for the machine washing ofclothes, which comprises a hollow body closed at one end by a base andintended to receive the amount prescribed for the washing of at leastone useful product, such as a liquid detergent or a washing additive,said hollow body being provided with at least one filling opening andwith outlets for the distribution of said product or products, the saiddevice being intended to be placed, with the clothes to be washed, inthe drum of the machine, where it is progressively emptied of itscontents in the course of the washing cycle, and being characterized inthat it is provided with means enabling a user to effect, once saiddevice has been filled, an easy and controlled application of at leastone product contained in it to selected areas of a garment, before thelatter is washed in the machine, in order to effect a pretreatment ofsuch areas before the washing cycle, the measuring and dispensingdevice, containing the amount of product remaining after thepretreatment, being introduced together with the clothes into themachine, and in that said pretreatment means form an integral part ofsaid device.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention the deviceis filled at the start with the entire amount of useful product, such asthe liquid detergent, required for a washing cycle. A fraction of thecontents of the device is applied during the pretreatment to theselected areas of garments. The residual amount of product isdistributed, in the course of the wash, by the measuring and dispensingdevice placed in the machine together with the clothes. It will be notedthat the total amount of useful product will thus be brought intocontact with the clothes, namely the amount applied to the area ofgarments during the pretreatment and the amount contained in the deviceand distributed from the latter. It has surprisingly been found that theinvention thus achieved even greater effectiveness in respect to stainremoval because of the pretreatment, although the amount of productconsumed is the same as with the prior art described at the beginning ofthe present description.

Another advantageous feature is that at the end of the washing cycle theentire device leaves the machine in a completely clean state and can bereused immediately, whereas in the case of known pretreatments residuesand spots of product were always left on the application means used,unless a separate pretreatment product container was used, with thepreviously mentioned disadvantages of this known technique.

The present invention also relates to the following characteristics,considered singly or in all their technically possible combinations:

the pretreatment means comprise means enabling a controlled amount ofproduct to be poured out onto areas of garments requiring pretreatment;

the means enabling a controlled amount of product to be poured outcomprise a pouring spout or a nozzle leading to the outside of thedevice;

the pretreatment means comprise a pouring spout leading to the outsideof the device and ending in a channel which is in communication with theinterior of the device;

the pouring spout is distant from the base of said device, while thechannel passes substantially radially through the wall of the body ofsaid device;

the pouring spout is close to the base of said device;

the channel terminating in the pouring spout extends in the walls of anassembly attached to the body of said device, capping its fillingopening, while at the opposite end to that where the pouring spout islocated said channel leads into the interior of the device;

the pretreatment means comprise means enabling a user to apply treatmentby rubbing to the areas of the garment requiring pretreatment;

the body of said device is provided with irregularities projecting fromthe wall on which they are formed;

said irregularities are grooves or striations and/or are small studsprovided on the base of the container;

surface irregularities are provided on the wall of the container in theimmediate vicinity of the pouring spout or nozzle;

the center plane of the filling opening of the device is inclined inrelation to the center plane of its base, while the pouring spout or thenozzle is disposed in a zone of said device at the level of which saidopening is most distant from said base;

the body provided with gripping depressions;

the device is divided internally by walls intended to prevent accidentalpouring out of a product which is not desirable for the pretreatment;

the body of said device is divided internally by walls which in itsinterior delimit a plurality of compartments each intended to receive adifferent active product;

the device comprises in its interior at least one measuring marker;

said marker is of adjustable height in relation to the base of thedevice.

The descriptions given below of various embodiments of the invention arepurely illustrative and non limitative. They must be read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a measuring and dispensing deviceaccording to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in axial section of the measuring and dispensing deviceshown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views in perspective and in axial section of ameasuring and dispensing device according to a second embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are respectively a view in perspective and a view in axialsection of a measuring and dispensing device according to a thirdembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view in section on the line VII--VII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7A is a view in axial section of another variant of the invention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are respectively a view in perspective and a view in axialsection of a two-compartment measuring and dispensing device accordingto a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are respectively a view in perspective and a view inaxial section of a two-compartment measuring and dispensing deviceaccording to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are respectively a view in perspective and a view inaxial section of a measuring and dispensing device according to a sixthembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are respectively a view in perspective and a view inaxial section of a device according to a seventh embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 16 and 17 are respectively a view in perspective and a view inaxial section of a measuring and dispensing device according to anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 18 and 19 are respectively a view in perspective and a view inaxial section of a measuring and dispensing device according to anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 20 and 21 are respectively a view in perspective and a view inaxial section of a measuring and dispensing device according to anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 22 and 23 are respectively a view in perspective and a view inaxial section of a measuring and dispensing device according to anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 24 and 25 are respectively a view in perspective and a view inaxial section of a measuring and dispensing device according to anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 26 and 27 are respectively a view in perspective and a view inaxial section of a measuring and dispensing device according to yetanother embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 28 is an exploded view in perspective of a measuring and dispensingdevice according to another possible embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 29 and 30 are view in section of the device in FIG. 28 on the lineof section indicated in these figures, in two different use positions.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a measuring and dispensing device according to afirst embodiment of the invention, which comprises a hollow body 1 ofrevolution, of mainly spherical or slightly ellipsoidal shape, closed atone end by a base 2, which is a flat surface, and, opposite said base 2,provided with a circular opening 3 surrounded by a rim 3a. This opening3 is bordered by an annular cylindrical support skirt 4 extending fromsaid rim 3a towards the outside of said body 1. This support skirt 4receives an annular collar 5 serving as a means for clipping to anattached assembly 6. In addition to this collar 5, the attached assembly6 comprises a basket 7 which forms a helical web at the level of theopening of the body 1. The cavities bounded by the branches of thishelical web constitute outlets 8 through which the product filled intosaid body will progressively escape during the washing cycle.

The body 1 is provided with a re-entrant groove 9 arranged on its outerwall and extending over substantially the entire height from its collar4 to the base 2, said groove 9 being of slight depth and slight width.At the top, close to the opening 3, this groove 9 is associated with apouring spout 10 which projects slightly in relation to said groove 9.The opening of said spout 10 is in the form of a flat slit and is incommunication with the interior of the body 1 by way of a channel 10a.

In addition, the base 2 is provided on its outer face with small studs2a, which constitute irregularities intended to permit the rubbing ofareas of a garment which are to be treated. The body 1 of the measuringand dispensing device has a shape perfectly suitable for gripping by theuser's hand, and for this purpose has two depressions 1a disposed one oneach side of the pouring spout 10.

A dispenser device of this kind is used in the manner which will now bedescribed. The user first fills this device with the detergent liquidwhich he intends to use for the machine washing, in accordance with thedosage prescribed by the maker. He can then pretreat certain areas ofthe garment by pouring a little detergent liquid onto those areas byinclining the body 1. The detergent liquid passing through the channel10a then passes out of the body 1 through the spout 10, which the userwill direct and position so as to obtain the desired distribution of thedetergent liquid over the areas which are to be pretreated. When theuser considers that a sufficient amount of liquid has been poured for anarea which is to be pretreated, he stops the flow of the detergentliquid by tilting the body in the opposite direction, and he can rub thepreselected area of the garment with the aid of the outer surface of thebase 2 and of the irregularities 2a formed on that surface. The userthen uses the dispenser device substantially like a brush, themanipulability of the device being facilitated by the depressions 1a,which enable the device to be gripped most effectively. When thepretreatment stage has been completed, the user places the measuring anddispensing device in the drum of the washing machine together with theclothes, the detergent liquid which remains in the body 1 progressivelyescaping through the outlets 8 in the course of the washing cycle.

As previously mentioned, the total amount of washing product is the sameas that used in a known device not provided with pretreatment means.This amount corresponds in fact to the fractions used during thepretreatment and the amount dispensed during the washing cycle. Inaddition, the device equipped with the means described leaves thewashing machine in a clean state and can be recovered for reuse.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, it is seen that a measuring anddispensing device according to a variant embodiment of the inventioncomprises a body 11 of mainly spherical shape, which terminates at oneend of a flat surface 12 constituting its base, and at its other end hasan opening 13 capped by an attached assembly 16. This attached assembly16 is engaged by means of a collar 15 over a skirt 14 bordering theopening 13 in the body 1.

The walls of the body 11 are provided with a depression 19 extendingfrom the base 12 to the rum 13a carrying the skirt 14, the main wall ofthis depression 19 ending, in its part most distant from the base 12,substantially at the level of the contour of the opening 13. Thisdepression 19 is intended to receive a horn-shaped channel 20 integrallymoulded with the collar 15; the inside walls of this channel 20 matchthe shape of the walls of the body 1 at the level of said depression 19.At this bottom end the horn-shaped channel 20 leads out, near the base12, to the outside of the device by way of an opening 20a forming apouring spout. At its other end said channel 20 leads through an opening20b to the interior of the measuring and dispensing device. The opening20b is formed in the wall 15a of the collar 15, the latter being engagedover the skirt 14 by means of said wall. This horn-shaped channel 20 hasin its center plane passing through the axis of the body 11 acrescent-shaped cross section widening out from its end on the base 12towards the wall 15a and the opening 20b.

In the interior of the body 1 said wall 15a is extended by afrustoconical chimney 17 provided over its entire periphery with outlets18 formed in the side wall of the truncated cone 17. Depressions 11aenable the device to be conveniently gripped on each side of thehorn-shaped channel 20.

The device in the variant shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is used in the mannerwhich will now be described.

In order to effect the pretreatment, after the device has been filledwith detergent liquid through the opening 13 and the frustoconicalchimney 17, the user slightly tilts the device so that the channel 20and the opening 20a are in a lowered position relative to the remainderof the device. The detergent liquid then passes from the body 11 intosaid channel 20 by way of the opening 20b and then flows out of saidchannel through the spout 20a, which the user directs in order todistribute the detergent liquid in a controlled manner over the areas ofthe garment which it is considered should be pretreated. When a quantityof detergent liquid thought to be sufficient has been deposited on oneof these areas, the user tilts the measuring and dispensing device inthe opposite direction and can rub the area in question with theirregular outer face of the base or flat surface 12. Once thispretreatment of the garment has been carried out, the measuring anddispensing device is placed in the drum of the machine together with theclothes. In the course of the washing cycle the detergent liquidprogressively escapes from the said device through the outlets 18 andthe opening of the chimney 17. Once again, it can be seen that thedevice leaves the machine in a perfectly clean state and can be directlyreused.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 7, it can be seen that a measuring anddispensing device according to another possible variant of the inventioncomprises a body 21 of mainly cylindrical shape, provided with a base 22and an opening 23, said body 21 thus forming a container. In addition,substantially similarly to the variant illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,this device comprises:

an attached assembly 26 which comprises a collar 25 engaged over asupport skirt 24 and bordering the opening 23 of the body 21, as well asa helical web 27;

a pouring spout 30 which projects in relation to the outer cylindricalfaces of the body 21 and is in communication with the interior of thedevice by way of a channel 30a passing radially through the cylindricalwall of the body 21 in a zone of said wall which is distant from thebase 22 and close to the opening 23.

The cylindrical wall 25b, which fits internally into the support skirt24, is extended inside the device by an incurved tongue L1 or deflectorextending from the side of the wall 15b which is closest to the channel30a towards the axis of the body 21 and the base 22, its end moredistant from the collar 25 being situated substantially at the level ofsaid axis, at the middle of the height of the body 21 and its tangentplane being substantially parallel to the base 22. The deflector L1 iscompleted by a dome or shoe L2 substantially of the shape of a hollowquarter-sphere, said shoe L2 having a semi-circular contour at the levelof the base 22, corresponding to the semicircular inside contour of saidbase 22, and being disposed on the same side of the device as the tongueL1. This shoe L2 may for example be integrally moulded on the body 21 orelse be of a material enabling it to be introduced into the body in adeformable shape and to become rigid after it has been introduced intothe container.

The device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is used in the manner which will nowbe described. It is more particularly intended to receive two productsuseful for the washing, one of them in powder form and the other inliquid form. The produce in liquid form is the one of the two productswhich is intended to be used during the pretreatment stage. The userthen pours the powder into the interior of the body 21, the powdersliding over the face of the tongue L1 directed towards the opening 23,falling onto the base 22 and being at least partially distributed underthe dome L2. Once the necessary amount of powder has been introducedinto the body 21, the user fills the body L1 with detergent liquid,which falls into the body 21 without excessively mixing with the powder.The user can then carry out the pretreatment of areas of the clothes,operating substantially in the same manner as with the deviceillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, that is to say using the pouring spout 30to distribute the detergent liquid over the areas of the clothes whichhe considers should be treated, and then optionally rubbing these areaswith the aid of the base 22 of the body 21, said base being providedwith irregularities. During this tilting movement the powder is retainedin the body 21 by the shoe L2, and only the detergent liquid is pouredout through the channel 30a and the spout 20. When this pretreatment hasbeen completed, the device has only to be placed inside the drum of themachine, and the useful product in powder form and the detergent liquidwill escape from the said device, during the washing cycle, through theoutlets 28 which between them delimit the branches of the helical web27.

The device shown in FIG. 7A is very similar to that shown in FIGS. 5 to7, and for the elements of the device shown in said FIGS. 5 to 7 whichare found again in the variant shown in FIG. 7A the same referencenumerals are used again, increased by 100.

This device, which in its interior has neither a deflector nor a shoe,comprises a cylindrical body 121 and an attached assembly 126 providedwith a chimney 127 having outlets 128. A channel 130a ending, outsidesaid body, in a spout 130 passes through a part of the body 121 distantfrom the base 112.

The mode of utilization of the variant illustrated in FIG. 7A is verysimple. During the pretreatment the user has simply to incline the body121 in order to pour out through the spout 130 the desired amount ofdetergent liquid. It will be noted that, as shown in the drawing, themouth of the spout 130 may be provided with means enabling the flow ofdetergent liquid to be controlled or slowed down. Such means may forexample consist of a grid or sieve.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, it can be seen that a measuring anddispensing device according to yet another possible variant of theinvention comprises a main body 31 in the form of two cylinders disposedside by side along a common wall P delimiting, inside the body 31, twocompartments A and B, of which one (A) has a slightly smaller diameterthan the other (B). On this body 31, which terminates at one end in abase 32 and at its other end has two openings 33a and 33b, is disposedan attached assembly 36 comprising two collars 35a and 35b joined toform a single piece 35 and respectively matching the edges of the body31 which delimit the contour of the compartment A and the contour of thecompartment B, said two colg the edges of b being joined at a commonwall in line with the wall P delimiting the two compartments A and B inthe body 31. The collar 35a is associated with a chimney 37a offrustoconical shape, which is provided with elongated slits 38aregularly distributed over its periphery and extending alonggeneratrices of said chimney 37a . The collar 35b is in turn providedwith a helical web 37b of the type already described above. In its zoneat the greatest distance from the compartment A the compartment B isprovided with a spout 40, the shape and arrangement of which one thewalls of the body 31 are substantially the same as those of the spout 30on the walls of the body 21 of the device shown in FIGS. 5 to 7.

The utilization of the device described here is substantially similar tothat of the devices shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and in FIGS. 5 to 7, inrespect of its principle, except that the user first fills each of thecompartments A and B separately, filling the compartment B with thedetergent liquid which is to be used for the pretreatment of clothes,while the compartment A is filled with a liquid or powder product usedfor washing but not compatible with the detergent liquid with which thecompartment B is filled.

The height of the wall P separating the compartments A and B isselected, in dependence on the dimensions of said compartments, in sucha manner that the contents of compartment A will not be poured outaccidentally when the device is tilted to pour out the product containedin compartment B.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 10 and 11, it can be seen thata measuring and dispensing device according to a fifth embodiment of theinvention is of the general type of the device provided with ahorn-shaped channel shown in the previously described FIGS. 3 and 4, andcomprises in particular a body 41 associated with an attached assembly46, in which the wall 45a of the collar 45, by which the assembly isheld on the body 41, is provided with an opening 50a, at the level ofwhich a horn-shaped channel 50 has its outlet, through its other end atthe level of an opening 50b forming a pouring spout disposed towards thebase 42 of the device. The wall delimiting said horn-shaped channel 50on the inside is the wall of the body 51.

The device of this new variant differs from the device shown in FIGS. 3and 4 in that it has a secondary compartment C intended to receive, forexample, a bleach in liquid or powder form, this secondary compartment Cbeing delimited on the one hand by the outer face of the wall boundingthe inside of the body 41, and on the other hand by an incurved wallwhich extends from the base 42 substantially to the plane of the openingof the body 41. The wall delimiting the chamber C diverges from theouter wall of the body 41 at the base 42 and as far as the plane of itsopening. This chamber C is also provided at its opening contour with agrid D the mesh of which delimits outlets intended to permit both thefilling of this chamber C before the wash and the progressive evacuationof the product contained in it in the course of the washing cycle.

The utilization of a device of this kind is substantially similar tothat of the device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the only difference, wherethe user is concerned, consisting of the initial filling of each of thetwo compartments of the device with suitable products which cannot bepreviously mixed, the body 41 receiving in its interior mainly thedetergent liquid intended to be used for the pretreatment phase.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a measuring and dispensing device according to asixth embodiment of the invention. This device comprises essentially abody 51 forming, in conjunction with a base 52, a container intended toreceive a detergent liquid utilizable both for the pretreatment phaseand for the washing cycle. The body 51 of this container has mainlyspherical, slightly oblong shape. Its opening 53 at the opposite end toits base 52 is disposed in a plane slightly inclined relative to theplane of said base 52. As previously, this opening 53 is bordered by askirt 54 intended to cooperate with a complementary wall 55b provided onthe collar 55 of a lid 57 associated with said container for the purposeof holding said lid on said opening 53. The lid 57 comprises,additionally to the collar 55, a base which, for example for aestheticreasons, may have a slightly irregular shape but which extends along theinclined plane of the opening 53 of the body 51, this lid base beingprovided with outlets 58 distributed over its entire surface, as well asover the wall 55b of the collar 55, intended to cooperate with the skirt54. In its zone of maximum height the body 51 is provided withstriations or grooves 52b extending on the periphery of said body 51substantially to the base 52 of said body. At the level of this zone thelid 57 is associated with a horn-shaped channel 60 matching the roundedor incurved shape of the body 51 of the device. This horn-shaped channel60 ends at the level of an opening forming a pouring spout 60a. At itsother end is situated an opening 60b formed in the wall 55b of thecollar 55. The pouring spout 60a is disposed above the zone providedwith the striations or surface irregularities 52b.

This measuring an dispensing device is used in the manner which will nowbe described. The user first fills the container 51. Before passing tothe washing stage, the user may if desired effect the pretreatment ofcertain areas of the clothes by pouring detergent liquid by tilting thedevice, in such a manner that the liquid passes through the opening 60band the pouring spout 60a. It is to be noted that the fact that theprincipal plane of the contour of the opening 53 is slightly inclined inrelation to the base 52 of the device makes it possible to avoidaccidentally pouring out the liquid when the device is placed on a flathorizontal surface before the pretreatment, the opening 60b being thensituated above the level of the liquid. Once the liquid has bene spreadover an area of the clothes, the user can treat that area by rubbing, bymoving the striations 52b to-and-fro over said area of the garment, thedevice then being slightly straightened in relation to its previousposition, so that the level of the detergent liquid in the container 51is below the opening 60b. When the user has completed the pretreatmentphase, he places the device in the drum of the washing machine togetherwith the clothes. In the course of the washing cycle the detergentliquid passes progressively out of the measuring and dispensing deviceby way of the outlets 58 provided in the lid 57.

A seventh measuring the dispensing device is also shown in FIGS. 14 and15. As can be seen in these figures, this device comprises a main body61 having a shape of revolution delimited by generatrices extending fromthe contour of an elliptical base. The body 61 is associated with a lid67, which has a concave profile in the direction of the base 62 andwhich is provided at its center with a main filling opening 68a, aroundwhich elongated outlets 68b extend radially, the body 61 and its lid 67being provided with a spout 70, which is a depression extending over thegreater part of the height of the container 61 from the concave part ofthe lid 67. At the end of said spout 70 close to the base 62 the outsidewalls of the body 61 may be provided with protuberant striations 62bjust below the spout 70. The body 61 is in addition provided with asemi-annular depression 61b disposed oppositely to said spout 60 andintended to permit better gripping of the entire device.

A measuring and dispensing device of this kind is used in the mannerwhich will now be described. The user fills the container with detergentliquid by way of the openings 68a and 68b. He can pretreat selectedareas of a garment by pouring detergent liquid onto these areas bytilting the entire device so that the detergent liquid, passing throughthe openings 68b facing the spout 60, is poured from the latter onto theareas to which the user wishes to apply said liquid. He can then applyrubbing with the aid of the striated surface 62b. Once the pretreatmenthas been completed, the device is introduced into the drum of themachine together with the clothes.

FIGS. 16 and 17 further show a measuring and dispensing device accordingto an eighth possible variant of the invention. The body 71 of thedevice has the shape of a frustoconical cradle at its front part andends in a wall having substantially the shape of an arc of a sphere atits rear part. The lid 76 associated with it comprises a collar part 75and a part 77 forming a spout. This spout 77 is associated with acylindrical neck 77a extending from said spout 77 towards the bottom 72,and is mainly composed of a striated surface 77b which extends from thebottom of the collar 75 to the front of the device and is extended ontothe front edge of the body 71 (striations 72b). The front part of theneck 77a has its outlet at the level of the bottom of the grooves in thesurface 77, while its rear part has its outlet at the level of the topparts of the grooves which constitute said surface 77. At its front partthis surface 77 has holes or outlets 78 passing through it.

For the purpose of filling this device, the user pours out the detergentliquid from the container constituted by the body 71 together with itsbase 72. Once the lid 76 has been placed in position, the user can thenpretreat particularly soiled areas of the clothes by tilting the entiredevice forwards, so that the detergent liquid passing through the neck77a and the holes 78 is carried into the grooves of the striated surface77 b to the surface on which the user wishes to apply the detergentliquid. He can then carry out the treatment by rubbing said surface withthe aid of the part 72a of the striated surface 77a situated at thefront of the body 71. When the pretreatment has been completed, aspreviously it is then only necessary to place the entire device,together with the clothes, in the drum of the machine. In the course ofthe washing the detergent liquid will escape through the outlets 78 andthe neck 77a.

The ninth possible variant embodiment of the invention, which isillustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, is very similar to that shown in FIGS.12 and 13, since the body 81 of the device is provided, on a front partof greater height, with striations 82b which extend over contourperipheries one above the other from the base 82 to the lid 87. This lid87 is provided with outlets 88. On its front part it is provided withmeans 90 intended to permit a controlled pouring of the detergentliquid, said means being a simple spout having an incurved base. Theutilization of a device of this kind is derived from the utilization ofthe device shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

The device according to a tenth variant of the invention, which is shownin FIGS. 20 and 21, is very close to that shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, fromwhich it differs essentially in that the lid 96 with which it isequipped has at its center a filling opening 97a of large diameter, thisopening 97a being supplemented by small openings 97b serving as outletsfor progressive evacuation of the detergent liquid in the course of thewashing.

FIGS. 22 and 23 further show a device according to an eleventhembodiment of the invention. The body 101 of this device has asubstantially crushed, mainly spherical shape between its opening 103and its base 102 in the form of a flat surface. This body is associatedwith a lid 106 the lower rims of which delimit an opening which widensout from the interior of the body 101 towards the outside, said rimsconsisting of a succession of superposed frustoconical steps 106a whichare provided with slits 107 intended to serve as outlets to enable thebody 101 to empty progressively in the course of a washing cycle. Thislid 106 also has a spout 110 projecting slightly in relation to thewalls of the body 101. The body 101 is in turn provided, below saidspout 110, with striations or grooves 102b extending from said spout 110to the base 102. The utilization of this device is also inspired by thatof the previously described devices.

A device according to a twelfth variant of the invention is furthershown in FIGS. 24 and 25. This device comprises a spherical body 111having a base 112 and an opening 113 slightly inclined relative to saidbase. An assembly 116 having a collar 115 provided with openings 117a anda main opening 117b is attached over the opening 113. In its interiorthe body 111 is provided with a wall E, likewise having the shape of anarc of a circle and extending from its base to its opening and, inconjunction with the outer wall, delimiting a chimney-like channel 120provided towards the base 112 with an opening 120b leading to theoutside of the device. This device is used substantially similarly tothe mode of utilization of the devices already described: in order todistribute the detergent liquid over areas of the garment which are tobe pretreated, the user inclines the device towards the front, where thechimney-like channel 120 is associated, so that the liquid passes intosaid channel 120 and out of the latter at its opening 120b. Once theliquid has been distributed, the user can effect pretreatment by rubbingthe garment with the front part 112b of the device.

A device according to a thirteenth possible embodiment of the inventionis further shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. This device comprises mainly ahollow body 121, of mainly spherical shape, provided with a base 122 andwith a circular opening 123 surrounded by a rim 123a. This opening 123is bordered by an annular cylindrical support skirt 124. This skirt 124receives an annular collar 125 serving as a means for clipping to anattached assembly designated as a whole by the reference 126. Inaddition to this collar 125, this assembly 126 comprises a chimney withouter walls in the form of a truncated cone 127 extending in theinterior of the body 121 from the opening 123 to a base 129 whichterminates it, said base 129 being close to the base 122 and parallelthereto. This base 129 forms the small base of the truncated cone 127,the walls of said truncated cone 127 being continued beyond its largebase, which is situated substantially at the level of the rim 123a andparallel to the base 122, by a cylindrical wall 125a of the annularcollar 125, this wall 125a matching the internal walls of the supportskirt 124. This wall 125a and the part of largest diameter of thetruncated cone 127 are separated from one another by an annular setback130c which is visible to an operator looking at the device from above.The diameter of the cylindrical wall 125a is, for this reason, slightlygreater than the largest diameter of the truncated cone 127.

The walls which define this truncated cone 127 in its interior comprisefour successive parts of revolution designated, from the base 129towards the opening 123, by the references 127a to 127c respectively.The inner walls which define the parts 127a to 127c are cylindrical, theinside diameter of the part 127b being slightly greater than that of thepart 127a, the diameter of the part 127c being slightly greater thanthat of the part 127b. The part 127c has, for its part, a frustoconicalinternal shape, the small diameter of which is slightly greater than thediameter of the part 127c. Thus, the four parts 127a to 127c areseparated from one another, in pairs, by annular setbacks which havebeen designated by the references 130a, 130b and 130c respectively andwhich, just like the setback 130c, are circles which are visible to anoperator when he looks at the entire device from above. Three openings128 are formed in the walls of the chimney in the form of the truncatedcone 127. These three openings 128 are of identical shape and aredistributed regularly over the said part 127. They each extend form thebase 129 to the annular setback 130c. These openings 128 are shaped inthe form of pyramids with three tiers. The opening portions 128a to 128ccorresponding to them at the level of the parts 127a to 127c are ofmainly rectangular shape and are centered on one and the same axis ofsymmetry, the portion 128a being wider than the portion 128b, which isitself wider than the portion 128c.

At the top, the body 121 is provided with a pouring spout 130 whichprojects in relation to the main shape of said body 121. This pouringspout is provided with an opening 130a which is a flat slit.

The body 121 has a shape which is particularly suitable for manualgripping of the device by a user, and for this purpose has twodepressions 121a disposed symmetrically on the body 121 in relation tothe pouring spout 130.

A device of this kind is used in the manner which will now be described.It is initially in place on the cap of a bottle of liquid detergent, nowshown. It is held on said cap in a conventional manner, for example byclamping its internal walls on the external walls of said caps. For thispurpose, the entire device may be made, more particularly, of a flexibleplastic material. The user can thus easily detach the entire device fromthe bottle on which it is presented, and then fill the device withliquid detergent. The detergent is poured through the opening 123 intothe truncated cone 127 and passes through the openings 128 into theenvelope 121. The annular shoulders 130a to 130 c serve as fillingindicators for the user of the device. The user will be able to adjustthe measured quantity of liquid detergent in his/her device dependingupon the type of wash which is to be carried out.

After this filling stage, the user will be able to carry out apretreatment of the clothes by spreading the detergent liquid over areasthereof which are more particularly stained. For this purpose, the userwill tilt his/her device forwards so that the liquid passes through theopening 130 a of the spout 130. The device will have been gripped by wayof the gripping depressions 121a. The pretreated clothes and the deviceare then placed together in the drum of the machine. The amount ofdetergent liquid which will be used during the washing cycle will thuscorrespond to that which has initially been measured out by the user andwhich is to be found mainly in the device, but also partly on thepretreated clothes.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 28 to 30. The measuring anddispensing device shown there comprises a body 141 of mainly sphericalshape, having a base 142 and a circular opening 143 surrounded by acylindrical skirt 144 extending perpendicularly to the rim 143a formedby said body 141 at the level of said opening. Said rim 143a is parallelto the base 142. Attached to this skirt 144 and to the opening 143 are,on the one hand, an assembly 150 which is snapped onto said skirt 144and, on the other hand, an assembly 146 provided with a collar 145, theinner wall of which cooperates, by clamping, with the wall of theassembly 150, in order to hold said assembly 146 in relation to theentire device and to the opening 143, while allowing said collar 145 andthe assembly 146 to pivot in the circular opening 143. The assembly 150is a guiding framework of mainly cylindrical shape. On its contour thereare defined three helical guiding slots 151 distributed uniformly overits periphery and extending between a lower hoop and an upper hoop 152aand 152b of the assembly 150. The upper hoop 152b carries the edge 153which is snapped onto the skirt 144. The helical braces on which theslots 151 are formed are interconnected by braces 154 which form, forthe framework 150, two intermediate hoops between the lower and upperhoops 152a and 152b.

The assembly 146 is likewise of general cylindrical shape. It comprises,for its part, between the above mentioned cylindrical wall 145a and alower hoop 147, three straight slots 148 extending in bracesperpendicularly to the main plane of said hoop 147 up to the cylindricalwall 145a. The braces which carry these slots 148 are interconnected bytwo intermediate hoops 149. The slots 148 and their braces are likewisedistributed uniformly over the periphery of the assembly 146. When theassembly is fitted together, each slot 148 is opposite one, and onlyone, slot 151.

The assemblies 146 and 150 are associated with a plate 155 which is adisc, the diameter of which corresponds substantially to the internaldiameter of the assembly 146. This disc 155 is provided with three pins156 which are disposed radially in relation to said disc 155, extendingoutwards from the contour of said disc. These pins 156 have dimensionswhich enable them to be inserted into the slots 148 and 151 with whichthey cooperate.

The body 141 of the device is provided with a pouring spout 160, theopening of which is a slit 160a. The external wall of the collar 145 isprovided, for its part, opposite this pouring spout 160 with a pluralityof projecting markers 161, whereas the wall of the rim 143a is providedwith a fixed marker 162 which is disposed symmetrically in relation tothe spout 160. Depressions 163 are disposed on the body 141 on each sideof the pouring spout 160. These depressions 163 are intended to permitgripping of the entire device.

A device of this kind is used in the manner which will now be described.The structure of this device permits a user, by pivoting the attachedassembly 146 about the axis of the body 141 by manipulation of thecollar 145, to adjust the position of the base 155 in relation to thebody 141 and to the assemblies 146 and 160. When the assembly 146 isdriven to pivot on itself, the pins 156 and the disc 155 are likewisedriven in rotation about the same axis. The helical slots 151 formed inthe assembly 150 drive said pins in an upward movement in the slots 148formed in the assembly 146.

When an operator wishes to use a measuring and dispensing device of thiskind, he/she first adjusts the heights of the plate 155 in relation tothe assemblies 146 and 150 and to the body 141 by turning the collar 145and the assembly 146 about the axis of said body 141 in order to makethat of the markers 161 which appears to correspond to the wash whichhe/she desires coincide with the marker 162. He then fills the devicewith washing liquid, using the plate 155 as a filling marker. He/she canthen carry out a pretreatment of the clothes by distributing liquid, viathe spout 160 and its opening 160a over the stains on said clothes whichappear stubborn. Once this pretreatment has been carried out, he/shepositions the device in the drum of the washing machine together withthe clothes. The amount of liquid which will be used for the washingcycle will be that which he/she initially measured out using the plate155 as a marker, since this amount will correspond to the amountdistributed over the pretreated parts of the clothes and to the amountremaining in the device.

The embodiments described above with reference to the accompanyingdrawings constitute only illustrations of the means according to theinvention and other variants are possible by modification of the shapesof the device and of the pretreatment means associated with it. In viewof the fact that the device is intended to serve as a dispenser after ithas been placed inside the drum of the machine, it must not have anysharp edges capable of damaging the clothes. The shape of the body ofthe device and of the pretreatment means must therefore conform to thisrequirement in a manner known to those versed in the art. Preferenceshould be given to rounded and curved shapes.

In addition, the materials of which the device of the invention is madeare advantageously the plastics materials already proposed for this typeof device, for example polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, althoughthis list is not limitative. As those versed in the art are aware,plastics materials are very suitable for this type of device, on the onehand for making connections between the various component parts, forexample by mating shapes, and on the other hand in order to withstandthe conditions prevailing in the washing machine, namely a temperaturewhich may reach values close to 100° C., in a neutral medium or onehaving a basic pH.

It will also be noted that, in order not to overburden the description,forms of construction already explained in connection with othervariants have not been explained again for each variant. For example,the nozzles or spouts may be provided with means of the type describedin connection with FIG. 7A for controlling the flow of detergent liquidduring the pretreatment. In addition, the arrangement of the rubbingmeans on the body of the device is not in any way critical. The surfaceirregularities may be provided in any suitable position on the bottom orthe side walls of the body, including the edge of the flat surfaceconstituting the base.

Similarly, the gripping means may be varied at will. The description ofcavities or depressions is purely illustrative. This type of means iseasy to produce during the moulding of the body of the device.

With regard to the method of manufacture, injection moulding is veryappropriate for plastics materials. In particular it makes it possibleto produce a body of a device and the associated pretreatment means in asingle operation.

Furthermore, the device of the invention may be used with widely varyingformulations of washing products. As an example, a standard formulationof a detergent liquid and three compositions of additives are given inthe following table.

    ______________________________________                                                      Additives                                                       Liquid          detergent                                                                              No. 1   No. 2 No. 3                                  ______________________________________                                        Linear alkylbenzene                                                                           13                     5                                      sulphonate                                                                    Sodium alkylsulphate                                                                          2                      2                                      Alkylalcohol ethoxylates                                                                      8                      5                                      Dodecenylsuccinic acid                                                        Zeolite                                17                                     Polyacrylate polymer                   4                                      Citric acid     3                                                             Sodium citrate                   15                                           Oleic acid      2                                                             Perborate (PB1)          45      45    25                                     Tetraacetylethylenediamine                                                                             16      16    9                                      Diethylenetriamine penta-                                                                     0.4                                                           methylene phosphonic acid                                                     Zn phthalocyanine                0.04  0.015                                  sulphonate                                                                    Protease (4.0 KNPU)                                                                           0.9                    1.25                                   Amylase (125 KNU/g)                                                                           0.09                                                          Optical brightener                                                                            0.16             0.07                                         Silicate                               2                                      Carbonate                              2                                      Sulphate                 39      24    19                                     Complement to 100                                                                             59       0       0     0                                      ______________________________________                                    

We claim:
 1. A reusable measuring and dispensing device for use in themachine washing of clothes, said device comprising a hollow body closedat one end by a base and adapted to receive a predetermined amount of aproduct, said hollow body being provided with at least one fillingopening and with outlets for distribution of said product, said devicebeing adapted to be placed, together with clothes to be washed, in adrum of a washing machine, wherein said device is progressively emptiedof said product during the course of a washing cycle, said device beingfurther provided with means for enabling a user to effect, once saiddevice has been filled, a controlled application of a pretreatmentamount of said product to selected areas of said clothes to accomplish apretreatment of said areas before said washing cycle, said device,containing a residual amount of product remaining after saidpretreatment, being introduced into said machine together with saidclothes, and in that said pretreatment means forms an integral part ofsaid device.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said pretreatmentmeans is adapted to enable a controlled amount of product to be pouredonto said areas.
 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein saidpretreatment means comprises a pouring spout.
 4. A device according toclaim 3, wherein said pretreatment means comprises a pouring spoutleading to the outside of said device and ending in a channel which isin communication with the interior of said device at a location remotefrom said base.
 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said channelpasses substantially radially through a wall of said hollow body.
 6. Adevice according to claim 4, wherein said pouring spout is adjacent tosaid base.
 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said channelextends within the walls of an assembly attached to said hollow body,capping said filling opening, said channel having a first end whichcomprises said pouring spout and a second end which communicates withthe interior of said hollow body.
 8. A device according to claim 6,wherein said pretreatment means comprises means to enable a user toapply treatment by rubbing said areas.
 9. A device according to claim 3,wherein a plane defined by said filling opening is inclined relative toa plane defined by said base, and wherein said pouring spout is locatedremotely from said base.
 10. A device according to claim 1, wherein saidhollow body is provided with outwardly projecting surfaceirregularities.
 11. A device according to claim 10, wherein saidirregularities are provided on said base.
 12. A device according toclaim 10, wherein said pretreatment means comprises a pouring spout andwherein said irregularities are provided on said hollow body adjacent tosaid pouring spout.
 13. A device according to claim 1, wherein saidhollow body is provided with gripping depressions.
 14. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said hollow body is divided internally bywalls so as to prevent accidental discharge of a product which is notdesirable for said pretreatment.
 15. A device according to claim 1,wherein said hollow body is divided internally by walls which define aplurality of compartments adapted to receive diverse products.
 16. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein said hollow body includes at leastone measuring marker.
 17. A device according to claim 16, wherein saidmarker is of adjustable heights relative to said base.
 18. Method ofutilizing the device according to claim 1, wherein said device is filledwith a total amount of liquid detergent prescribed for a wash, acontrolled pretreatment amount of said total amount of liquid detergentis applied to selected areas of said clothes with the aid of saidpretreatment means, and said device is then placed in said drum of saidwashing machine together with said clothes, said device containing theresidual amount of said liquid detergent remaining after saidpretreatment amount is applied to said clothes.
 19. Method of utilizingthe device according to claim 15, one of said compartments beingassociated with said pretreatment means, wherein said compartment whichis associated with said pretreatment means is filled with a total amountof liquid detergent prescribed for a wash, the other compartments arefilled with one or more additives, a controlled pretreatment amount ofsaid total amount of liquid detergent is applied to selected areas ofsaid clothes with the aid of said pretreatment means, and said device isthen placed in said drum of said washing machine together with saidclothes, said device containing the residual amount of said liquiddetergent remaining after said pretreatment amount is applied to saidclothes.
 20. Process for pretreating and washing clothes in a washingmachine, comprising the following steps:(a) a dosage of the totalquantity of liquid detergent to be utilized during a washing cycle isintroduced into a measuring and dispensing device; (b) a dosage of asecondary product to be utilized during said washing cycle is introducedinto said device; (c) said clothes are pretreated with a controlledpretreatment quantity of said liquid detergent dosage contained in saiddevice; and (d) said clothes and said device containing said secondaryproduct and the residual quantity of liquid detergent remaining aftersaid pretreatment quantity is applied to said clothes are placed in adrum of said washing machine, such that said secondary product and saidresidual quantity of liquid detergent are used for said washing cycle.